The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-07

II ShOOlu only De done as a temporary eNpeulenl
10 meet urgent necessity. Legislative and
executive effort should generally be in the oppo-
site direction, and should have tendency TO dI-
vorce as much, and as fast, as can safely be
done, the Treasury Department from private
enterprise. OF course it is not expected that
unnecessary and extravagant appropriations
accumulation of an excess of revenue. Such
expenditure, beside the decentralization of all
just conceptions of public duty which It entails,
stimulates habit of reckless improvidence not
ia the lesst consistent with the mission of our
people or the high and benetcent purposes of
our government. have deemed it my duty to
thus bring to the knowledge of my countrymen,
as well as to the attention of their representa-
tives charged with the responsibility of legisla-
tive relief, the gravity of our financial situation.
Tine failure of the Congress heretofore to
provided against the dangers which iu was quite
evident the very nature of the difficulty must
necessarily produce, caused a condition of
financial distress and.apprehension since your
last Adjournment, which taxed To the utmost
all the authority and expedients within eXecu-
tive control; and these appear now to be ex.
hausted If disaster result from the continued
inaction of Congress the responsibility must
rest where it belongs Though the situation
thus far considered is fraught with
danger which should be fully realized,
and though it presents features of
wrong to the people as well as peril TO the couIr
try. il is but result growing out of u perfectly
palpable and apparent cause, constantly repro
ducing the same alarming circumstances
congested national Treasury and a depleted
monetary condition in the business of the
country.
TARIFF REFORM NEEDED.
1t need hardly be stated that while the present
situation demands a remedy, we can only be
saved from like predicament in the future by
the removal of its cause. Our scheme of taxa
tion by means of which this needless surplus is
taken from the people and put into the public
Treasury, consist of a tariff or duty levied upon
importationS from abroad and internal revenue
taxes levied upon the consumption of tobacco
and spirituous and malt liquors
1t must be conceded that none Of the things
subjected to internal revenue taxation are
strictly speaking neceSsaries. There appears
10 be no Jus; complaint of this taxation by the
consumers of these articles, and there seems to
be nothing SO well able to bear the burden with
ont hardship to any portion of the people. But
our present tariff laws. the vicious, inequitable
and Illogical source OF unnecessary taxation,
ought to be at once revised aud amended. These
laws in their primary ard plain effect raise
the price to consumers OF all articles imported
and subject to duty by precisely the sum pad
for such duties. Thus the amount of Che
duty measures the tax paid by those who pur
chase for use these imported articles Many Of
these things, however, are raised or manufaC-
tured in our own country and the duties
levied upon foreign goods and products are
called protection to these home manufactures,
because they render it possible for those of our
people who are manufacturers to make these
fsxed articles and sell them for price equal 10
that demanded for the imported goods that
have paid customs duty. So it happens that
while comparatively few use the imported
articles, millions of our people, who never
Use and never saw any OF the foreign
products, purchase and use things of the same
kind made in this country, and pay therefor
nearly or quite the same enhanced price which
the duty adds to the imported articles. Those
who buy imports pay the duty charged thereon
into the public Treasury, but the great ajority
Of our citizens who buy domestic articles of the
same class pay a sum at least approximately
equal to this duty to the home manufacturer.
Tnis reference TO the operation of our tariff
laws is not made by way of instruction, but in
order that we may constantly be reminded of
the manner in which they impose burden upon
those who consume domestic products as well
RS those who consume imported articles, and
thus create a tax upon all people.
II is not proposed to entirely relieve the coun
try of this taxation. II must be extensively
continued as Gie source of the government S m
come and in a readiustment of our tariff the
interests of American labor engaged in manu-
facture should be carefully considered. as well
as the preservation OF our manufactures. 1t
may be called protection or by any oGher name,
but relief from the hardships and dangers of
our present tariff laws should oe devised with
especial precaution against importing the ex-
istence OF our manufacturing interests; but this
existence should not mean condition which,
with all regard to the public vel
fare the national sxigency, must
always insure the realization of immense profits
instead of moderately profitable returns. AS the
volume and diversity of our national activities
increase, new recruits are added to those who
desire continuation of the advantages which
they conceive the present system of tariff taxa
tion directly affords them.
A COMBINE
30 SluDDOrlIy nave oil ef1OltS TO reform the
present condition been resisted by those of our
fellow citizens thus engaged that they can
hardly complain of the suspicion enter
tanned TO a certain extent that there
exists an organized combination all along
the line to maintain their advantage.
We are in the midst of centennial celebrations
and with becoming pride we rejoice in Ameri-
can skill and ingenuity, in American energy
and enterprise, and in the wonderful natural
advantages and resources developed by cen
turys national growth. Yet, when an attempt
n "a wi ifc
tax TO be laid upon every consumer in the land
Tor the benefit of our manufacturers, quite be
yond a reasonable demand for governmental
regard II suits the purposes OF advocacy to call
our manufactures infant industries still need
ing the highest and greatest degree of favor
and fostering care that can be wrung from
Federal legislation.
1t is also said that the increase in the price of
domestic manufactures resulting from the
present tariff is necessary in order that higher
wages may be paid to our w0rkingmen EN-
ployed in manufactures than is paid for what is
called the pauper labor of Europe. All will
acknowledge the force of an argument which
involves the welfare and liberal compensation
OF our laboring people. Our labor is honorable
in the eyes of every American citizen and as it
lies at the foundation of our development and
progress. II is entitled without affectation or
hypocrisy tn the utmost regard. The standard
of our laborer should not be measured by that
of any other country less favored, and they are
entitled to their full share of all our advantages
by the last census it is made to appear that
or the u ~: OyJ OF our population engaged in
All klnuS OF INDUSTRIES I,bIU, 4yo are employed in
agriculture, 4,074.23S in professional and per-
sonal service (2,93i,S76 of whom are domestic
servants and laborers) while 1,Sl0,256 are en-
ployed in trade and transportation, and 1897
1l2 are classed as employed in manufacturing
and mining
Forpresent purposes, however the last number
given should be considerably reduced. Without
attempting to enumerate ALL IL will he conceded
that there should be deducted from those
which it includes 315, l43 carpenters and ioiners
2s5, 401 milliners. dTessmakers and seamstresses
1925 blacksmiths, 1873, 756 tailors and tailor
esses, 1924 masons, 1924 butchers, fl 300
takers y, 0s3 plasterers and 4S9l engaged in
manufacturing agricultural Implements, an
aggregate of 1874 023, leaving 2 623. 0S9 persons
employed in such manufacturing industries as
are claimed to be benefited by high tariff.
APPEALING TO BLIND PREJUDICE.
To these the appeal is made to save their EN-
ployment and maintain their wages by resisting
change There should be no disposition to
answer such suggestions by the ale CATION that
they are ia a minority among those who labor
and therefore should forego an advantage IN the
interest of low prices for the majority Their
compensation, as il may be affected by the
operation of the tariff laws, should at all times
lie scrupulously kept in view, and yet with slight
reflection they will not overlook the fact that
they are consumers with the rest that they,
too, have their own wants and those of their
families to supply from their earnings and that
the price of the necessaries of life, well as
the amount of their wages, will regulate the
measure of their welfare and comfort but the
reduction of taxation demanded should be so